i took the plunge

I have a t-shirt and a green wrist band to prove it, but no way to prove I was actually in the Delaware. I went alone.

I should have left earlier. The google directions said an hour and 15 minutes. It  started at noon. I started leaving at 10. I had my coat on and I had to suddenly use the bathroom. I got dressed and it happened again. Then I got 2 blocks from the house and realized I forgot the directions. Came home and everybody was double parked, so I left the car in the middle of the street, ran up the hill, grabbed the directions and got back to the car just as the blockage started moving. Then I got 2 blocks from the house and the gas light went on. I was starting to think it was a sign.

I arrived at the park at 11:50. It was a 5 minute walk to the water front and the people were pokey at the registration tent. I got to the beach as they announced "Green bands please come to the beach." I took off my pants and had 1.5 water shoes on when the whistle blew. I started running into the water. It was warmer than I thought it would be, but cold when I came out. I then realized I had my coat off, but not my sweater. I must have looked really silly in my bike shorts and bulky sweater! They made us exit out a different way, so I had to walk around to get my stuff. I reached for my bag, and they were saying "Purple and all latecomers come to the beach." So I went again. Grabbed my bag on the way out and my pants were missing. I left them on the beach! So I went back again. Now I was getting cold. It was after all about 21 degrees F out.

So I found my pants, I was putting them on and a microphone was in my face. Hi I'm garble garble from KYW News. Can I ask you some questions while you're dressing. I said sure. I'm the perfect body type for RADIO!

It was fun. It was certainly not an activity to do alone. There was nobody to high-5 or hug. No picture. No real evidence that I completed the challenge.

Tomorrow, it's back to reality and Planet Fitness with Sharon. I need to get this fat girl moving seriously for the next very short month. The stair climb is 29 days away. 52 stories. I want to reach the top, but I won't in this condition.

it's gotten really, really cold

Just in time for the plunge, the temperature has plummeted. I'm going anyway. Alone. So they'll be no pictures unless they take one. I'll be easy to see in my 3-Day t-shirt and pink fuzzy hat. They are sending people out in 5 different groups. Hopefully I'm in one of the early groups so I don't chicken out. I'll have all my dry stuff in a plastic bag.

Sunday I'm going to the gym with Sharon. She's learning all kinds of stuff from her trainer and wants to teach me. I fear I've unleashed a monster. Sharon might just become a gym rat. Eek.

now what shall i wear?

My January Challenge

I signed up for a polar plunge today. It's on Saturday. Couldn't wait much longer, eh? It benefits Special Olympics.

Now what do I wear?

I don't own a swimsuit and wouldn't wear one in public anyway. So I guess it's shorts and a tank top with water shoes.  I guess I also need to borrow some sweat pants for when I come out. They tell you you should bring a dry partner to hold your dry clothes. Need to find one of them. Maybe Bonnie will be game.

The website also says to bring a waterproof camera so someone out there will take a pix of you. It's going to be about 27 degrees F. I don't think anybody will be having photo ops! Hopefully my "dry" partner will take a pix. It also says no running. Like that's gonna happen.

The "fun" happens at noon Saturday at Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem.

✻  ✻  ✻

Walking wise, I've been averaging 2-3 days a week. Not bad for the middle of winter. Plus stairs. Not as many as I should be doing, but at least I'm not sitting on my butt.

I need to tame the food beast. He's out of control. Yeah, I know, he feeds mostly off of stress. Now if I could get that out of my diet it would be great.

I don't want to diet. That doesn't work. I need to change the way I eat and be consistent about it. I also need to eat smaller portions. That only happens on non-stress days.

(photo from polorpa.org website.)

sharon joins a gym

That's my sister Sharon in front of Planet Fitness this morning. A fellow fat girl.

She thinks I'm weird taking a picture. How long has she known me?

Normally I don't give up my space in the blog to other people. Heck, if they want a blog, they should get their own! But this is different. She has multiple joint and health problems and really needs to do something about her weight. So I'm trying to support her. No, she doesn't know she's in the blog. No, she doesn't know what a blog is.

She was reporting for orientation duty. She signed up about 2 weeks ago at the grand opening. $1 to join, $10 a month. The orientation was an hour. The first five minutes she was excited. The next five intense. The remaining 45 or so, glazed over like a deer in the headlights. I think she heard very little and what she did hear might have well been in another language. She didn't understand a thing. I think she was thinking of quitting before she started. (Recognize that MO?)

My sister is sweet, but she's not the sharpest tool in the shed. You have to show her something repeatedly for her to understand it. I knew her next class, learn to use the machines, would be less useful than it was for me at the College.

Is she doomed before she starts? Not quite.

The trainer mentioned Personal Training. I know that's pricey, but this is a no frills place so maybe I could negotiate something. So I stayed after "school" and talked with her. Sharon stood there still in "headlight" mode. I explained the situation and negotiate a deal. $25 a session, 6 times. Three for the upper body, three for the lower. That should be enough time to train her to use the machines without having to call 911. She really won't be personally training in the true sense of the word, more like supervising, but I thinks it's enough. Sharon is a visual learning. If she doesn't get it in six sessions, then she's not going to get it. besides, that's all I'm willing to invest.

My niece Lydia also joined Planet Fitness. She's having weight loss surgery in April.

So here I am working my butt off for two years with truly nothing to show for it. Wouldn't it be ironic if they both lost the weight and I didn't?

invaded by water bottles

The plastic storage containers had taken over my back porch. I couldn't find lids, they had spread to three shelves, and often graavity took over and they were on the floor. Some of the problem was water bottles.

Anybody who knows me knows that I use reusable everything. I never joined the disposable revolution. The rest of the world is catching up with me.

Anyway, in an attempt to tame that beast I also had to tackle the water bottles (cups too.) They too were out of control. Mostly because at a walk or event they pass out water bottles with the organizations name on it. They are often in your race pack. I won't throw them out, so they get put on the shelf.

There was 27 on the shelf in all styles and sizes, if you include the Musikfest mugs (one fore each of use to have our yearly beer. Cheaper!) and the two Tupperware cups I use to carry beverages to work. One must be 15 years old. I really only need 3 or 4 for walking. I have a nasty habit of leaving them in the car, or at other peoples houses. So I purged. They are all waiting in a bag for a charity pickup, or a call from someone saying I need water bottles!

What's left? 2 metal, 2 plastic, the 3 MF mugs and the two cups. For now. 5K season starts soon.

50°F on January 16

No excuses not to walk today.

Okay, maybe last night's adventure was a good one, but as mama used to say "what doesn't kill you makes you strong."

Last night my shoulder hurt, and I had indigestion. I think. I had convinced myself it was a heart attack, especially after my right arm fell asleep. The more I stressed the more things started to hurt. So I doodled and watched NUMB3RS. Then I went to bed, determined I'd never wake up. I took my phone with me so I could call 911 as my last act. (But how could they get in the house?)

Needless to say I woke up and still had indigestion. So I had 2 "Greekers"* for lunch, they back talked for about a half hour and then did their magic. "Greekers" are better for indigestion than pricey drugs. Not exactly on the food plan, but a girl must do, what a girl must do.

Mid morning I decided to walk after lunch. I haven't been going far. I've been going shorter, harder distances. Today I walked down to 4th, went up the 4th St. hill, down to Ostrum and was going to the hospital to do the stairs before going home. Then I saw the parking deck. Never paid attention to it before. There are four towers with four-five flights of stairs. I decided to cut over, and go up and down each. The first was locked, but I did the others. Then I used the stairs thru the parking lots to get to the Main Entrance, and headed for the stairs. The hospital is a maze, and I apparently zigged when I should have zagged and ended up it the shorter half of the building. Only five flights. But it was okay. I did all the ones in the parking deck to.  (The sign was at the exit of the lot.)

Then I resisted the urge the nurse showed me to avoid the hill. (At the time, I was guiding mama downhill in a wheelchair. Gravity almost got the best of me.) I went up the hill and headed home. It was about 1.5-2 miles. It felt good.

If I'm going to do the 52 flights at the end of February, I need to get out there more often. Bad weather or not.

*Greekers--Hot dogs from Pete's Doggie Shop. They have a sloppy, spicy beef topping.

fat girl falling

Friday I had an appointment at the Meyner Center. I decided to take the rear marble stairs, and for some reason walked down the middle. Silly me. About three from the bottom I started to fall. I landed on the next step on the side of my foot, and then on the next step on the other side of my foot. Hitting the bottom on the bottom of my foot but the side of my shoe.

I didn't break anything...except my shoe. It was a miracle. The College is on winter break right now, and I could have laid there for days before someone found me. The door was locked.

I went to the meeting, looking my worse. My ankle and knee were sore. Thankfully by Sunday it felt better and I could walk without pain. I only did about 2 miles.

Saturday I went to Foot Solutions  to look for new dress shoes. Not much luck. I entered the Cash for Calories program. $5 store credit per pound. The scale was broken. I guessed. I was 236 the last time I went to the Doctor so I figured I was 240 now. I ate my way thru the holidays.

The cold wave is breaking so walking will get easier. I took my BMI today, guessing my weight, and it said 34.4. (Normal weight = 18.5-24.9, Overweight = 25-29.9, Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater). I'm officially obese. But I knew that. Wanna find out yours. Go here.

yep, i went

I conned Beth into going with me Friday to see Richard Simmons. I forgot my camera. Can you believe it? Beth took the photo with her phone.

Yes, he was that close. He talked to the lady next to me.

The people were packed in the ballroom like sardines. 350-400 is my guess. He had his picture taken with each table while we were eating dinner. I have to go on the website on Friday to download them, I guess. They weren't quite clear with their instructions.

In many ways it was what I expected. In other ways not at all.

Afterwards we didn't stay for the book signing. (We all got one if you want to read it. Still Hungry After All These Years.)

Since it was at a casino, Beth wanted to play. Her investment was $10. Mine was $5. In five minutes she had nearly $100, and cashed out. Her daddy didn't raise no dummy. I never got over $7. It took about 15 minutes to lose my $5. I think it was boring. And now have a casino card. Oh goodie.

a whim...will I do it?

Friday night Richard Simmons is going to be giving a motivational speech at the Mount Airy Lodge and Casino in the Poconos. Saturday he'll be back to do a Sweating with the Oldies class.

I want to go to the lecture. I have no idea why. I've been thinking about it since I saw the listing in the paper. The man is wild, wacky, inspirational, and weepy ... he can get people from 100 to 1,000 pound moving their butts and eating better. Maybe that's his appeal.

I don't especially want to do the workout. Aerobics has never been my thing. I am so not coordinated.  But I bet my last dollar that every woman (and man too) in the room will be big. Some even bigger than me.

I'm sure he'll be selling his newest program or book or what not...that's why one goes out on tour.

I've been on his website three times in the past two days.  And I just joined his Facebook group. This is not a good sign. More than likely, I will go.

The shoe store where I bought my German walking shoes, Finn Casuals, is having a promotion. Come in, get weighed, and for each pound you lose in a three month period, you get a $5 store credit.  Twenty pounds would make another pair of Finn Casuals possible. Thinking about it. A lot.

Right now, I have to walk. Today I'm climbing Montclair Street from Broadway to 9th Street. The block between Summit and 8th takes my breath away every time. Today. I'm aiming to stop just once.

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update: I made it to 8th Street before I had to stop. It was wonderful. I wonder if I would have pushed myself if I could have made it to 9th without stopping. Maybe next time.
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update 2: I bought tickets. Beth and I are going Friday night. My first trip to a Pennsylvania casino. Hope our Sands starts offering stuff like this. I could walk!

are you bored with steps yet?

It's bitter cold here in Pennsylvania. Not conducive to walking outside for long periods of time. Sunday I walked up the Wyandotte Street hill (8% grade) and home and didn't break a sweat. Exposed parts of me, and that wasn't much, were red and wind burned.

Today this fat girl decided to stay in the house. But I knew I needed to exercise. So I went to the hospital and walked up their stairs. I believe the old section of the building is nine stories but might be ten if you count the basement. I entered in the new part and exited thru the old. I think because of the steep hill, the new part joins the old at the second floor. So that means eight up and nine down.

It wasn't bad. But I need to walk and breath with my mouth closed. Leaving it open is a bad habit, and I get dehydrated.

If I have any hope of completing the fifty stories I need to do steps or hills or both everyday until February 28.

Tomorrow I go back to work. I also am going to stat wearing my pedometer again. I need to be accountable.

sharon's stepper

Sharon bought this stepper weeks ago. Henry assembled it. She tried to use and really couldn't make it move. "It's really hard" she exclaimed. I mumbled something about changing the resistance.

So today when I came back from walking she asked if I had a minute to change the resistance. So I went to her place. I got on the thing and couldn't make it move. She gets the book. There is no place to change the resistance. No dial, no nothing. Crap.

So I ignore the instructions and put it close to the wall. I finally made it work. Having something to hold on to other than those straps, helped greatly. I did it for 2 minutes...159 steps...thought I was going to die. I climb six flights at Acopian, the stadium at Fisher Field and walk up Frederick and Wyandotte streets with less effort.

I still think it's resistance. Maybe Henry screwed it together too tight or something. But I'm not mechanical, I can't help her.

hill training begins with the new year

Mary Liz called about walking today but later backed out. I only have about 60 days to the stair climbs so this fat girl needs to get her butt moving. So I decided on one mile which included Frederick Street. This training is going to be steep hills. Don't have skyscrapers to practice in.

So I went up Bishopthorpe, then Findlay and headed up Federick. The last 1/4  is the hardest. I had to stop once about half way. When I reached the last 1/4, I went slow but didn't stop. I'm not as out of shape as I thought. The first picture is a view of Bethlehem /Fountain Hill from the top.

Coming down Wyandotte I went past the Indian girl that waves over the mountain. She was decked out for Christmas. So I also took her pix.

Tomorrows route will be straight up Wyandotte to the top from the five points. Traffic scares me more that the 8% grade hill.